Subway Encounter with Maya at the Bakery

Subway Encounter with Maya at the Bakery

I woke up late for work and rushed out of the apartment, half‑asleep, still in my pajamas. On the subway, I saw Maya—my boyfriend's sister—standing near the doors, looking exactly like she did at my high school graduation. She was holding a coffee and laughing with a guy I didn't recognize. I tried to avoid her, but the train stopped and the doors opened right onto a small bakery we used to visit on weekends. I stepped inside to buy a croissant, and Maya was already at a table, her hand tucked under the other man's arm. He leaned in and whispered something, and she smiled, the kind of smile that made my stomach flip. I stood there, frozen, while the baker called my name for a coffee I hadn't ordered. I wanted to run, but my legs felt like I was wading through syrup. The train's bell rang, and I woke up in a cold sweat.